How to Help Your Child Rebound From COVID-19 Slide

While parents are likely aware of “summer slide,” learning loss that can occur over the summer months, due to nationwide school closures and the increased need for virtual learning caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers and policymakers are concerned how students are tracking.

Recently published research shows some of the gaps. A study published by McKinsey & Co. found that according to one collection of assessment data, students learned only 67% of the math and 87% of the reading that grade-level peers would have typically learned by last fall. On average, this equates to three months of losses in mathematics and a month and a half in reading.

There exists additional concern for students’ emotional well-being, and unfortunately, the negative effects of this pandemic extend beyond academics. Not being able to see their friends, play their favorite sports, or have activities and events to look forward to has had an impact on children’s mental health.

The Power of Looking Forward

Many of the education experts responsible for developing Camp Invention^®, the flagship program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® (NIHF), are parents as well, and understand the challenges of navigating this pandemic from this vantage point.

“We knew that this year’s Camp Invention series needed to have an extra emphasis on rebuilding children’s sense of confidence and agency, and help them recharge their joy for learning, said Alaina Rutledge, vice president of education research and development at NIHF. Based on our extensive piloting in-person, as well as online, we observed the success of our focus on these elements in the form of smiles, laughter, confident invention pitches and STEM-infused innovations that you might find in your home one day.”

Now more than ever, kids need hands-on experiences that remind them of the joy that comes with learning and discovery. Camp Invention provides this by inviting participants to solve real-world challenges inspired by the lessons and stories of the world’s greatest inventors: our NIHF Inductees.

At Camp Invention, your child will be building serious STEM skills while having serious fun! A recent collaboration with the United Way of Summit County, NIHF partnered with Summit Education Initiative to observe the effects of Camp Invention on 750 K-6 public school students. The researchers found that after attending one week of Camp Invention, on average, children improved their proficiency in reading and mathematics.

NIHF’s education team believes in the power of social-emotional learning (SEL). Because of this, Camp Invention is filled with opportunities for children to collaborate and share their ideas. Through the act of play, children explore the power of empathy by inventing ways to help others and learn that often the first step of inventing is thinking of ways you can help make someone else’s life a little easier.

Make the Most of This Summer

Having delivered engaging and impactful STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) experiences for more than 30 years, Camp Invention is the perfect way to help your child catch up, as well as leap ahead, through the integrated power of invention education. 

Want to sign up and save today, but not sure if you will want an in-person or at-home experience? Not to worry! With our new Peace of Mind Promise, you can sign up now and finalize your experience format up to six weeks before your camp begins!

Reserve your spot by March 31 using the promo code STEMFUN40 at checkout to save $40 off the cost of registration.